Australian Grasses. 61 



the benefit of themselves. We trust that those interested in that direction here will 

 make use of the work, and endeavour to improve this important industry by carrying out 

 the latest improvements and discoveries which have been made by considerable pains by 

 our scientific men." The Clarence River Advocate. 



" The book contains a full account of our indigenous fodders, with illustrations of same, 

 and is well worth the attention of farmers and dairymen. In the introduction matters 

 are mentioned in connection with native grasses which have been too long lost sight of, 

 and cannot be too carefully considered by the farmers of this district. . . . After 

 fifteen years' experience, Mr. Turner has come to the conclusion that in most cases the 

 native grasses are the best fodder-plants ; and he warns pastoralists and agriculturists to 

 be careful lest the want of proper attention in conserving these leads to the extinction of 

 most valuable grasses. It would be worth any farmer's while to read the introduction 

 to the book, as a further perusal would almost be certain." Clarence and Richmond 

 Examiner. 



" Nearly a hundred different forage-plants are treated of, both by letter-press and illus- 

 tration, in an admirable manner, and the information conveyed ought to lead to increased 

 attention being directed to the cultivation of indigenous pasturage plants. What enhances 

 the value of the volume is that the author did not confine his attention to the plants of 

 his own colony, but has caused it to embrace the whole of Australia, thereby rendering it 

 a work of great utility to the agriculturist, pastoralist, and stockowner in all parts of the 

 continent." The West Australian. 



" There are various practical remarks 011 the conservation of native grasses and salso- 

 laceous plants. Then follow descriptions of a large number of forage-plants, with accom- 

 panying engravings. As far as possible technicalities have been avoided, and the illus- 

 trations are excellent. Such a publication must be of great utility in itself, and also as 

 possibly providing an incentive for further effort on the part of other workers." Adelaide 

 Advertiser. 



" Mr. F. Turner, F. L.S., has become so impressed with the value of the natural grasses 

 of Australia that he has fairly bubbled over, and in a neat volume of ninety-four pages 

 gives us a mine of most valuable information. Accurately estimating the busy life of those 

 for whom the book is specially intended, the subject matter is presented in the most 

 attractive way, there being no less than ninety-one full-page illustrations, with descriptive 

 letter-press on the opposite page. Having compared the engravings with some of the 

 plants with which we are most familiar, we can speak with pleasure of their faithfulness 

 to nature. In fact the work requires to be seen to be appreciated, and it should be on 

 the table of every woolgrower and farmer in the Colony. We are not aware whether it 

 is the intention of the Department of Public Instruction to make it a class-book, but we 

 certainly think that every Australian child should be made familiar with the contents. 

 With a view to promote a love for the study, it is our intention to give a prize for the 

 child attending any of the schools in this district who shall make the best collection of 

 forage-plants to be classified and properly named, according to this book, to be exhibited 

 at the next Gunnedah Show." Gunnedah Advertiser. 



"A useful work, and very conscientiously has the task been performed. It will probably 

 be news to a good many colonists to learn that in grasses alone no less than 360 species 

 have been classified, all indigenous to Australia. Not all of these are suited for fodder, 

 and it has been part of the author's task to indicate which are the more valuable. The 

 same information is afforded with regard to the various edible plants and shrubs growing 

 in different parts of the country, snowing which kinds are the most worthy of being 

 conserved. The description of every plant given is clear and concise, rendering identifi- 

 cation easy to any person of ordinary capacity, but in order to make it absolutely certain 

 in the case of many species, well-executed engravings accompany the letter-press. The 

 book is of interest to all, and should be of much practical value to landowners." The 

 Albury Banner. 



"Some idea of the scope of Mr. Turner's work may be gleaned from the fact that it 

 contains full descriptions of no less than ninety-one plants, with a clearly-executed 



engraving of each With the aid of these any ordinarily intelligent 



person should have no difficulty whatever in the identification of plants. In addition to 

 a description of each plant, given in language as little scientific as possible, and an 

 account of its properties as food, there will be found much valuable information as to 

 the most suitable mode of propagation, the districts best adapted for its growth, and 

 directions for its cultivation and conservation. Further, as in the case of some of the 

 gums and acacias, when a plant possesses economic value besides that of fodder pure and 

 simple its uses and commercial value are discussed. A large portion of the book is 

 devoted to the plants of the order Chenopodiacece, commonly known as salt- bush, for 



